Get in contact
South Oxfordshire District Council: visit website or call 01235 422422 (New telephone number from August 2017). Their activities include:
- Public amenities including rubbish collection, recycling, litter and street cleaning
- Building control, planning, appeals and enforcement
- Community safety
- Council tax collection
- Elections
- Environmental health, including noise and pest control
- Housing
- Licences
- Sports facilities
Oxfordshire Council: visit website or call 01865 792422. Their activities include:
- Education, careers, youth facilities
- Census
- Emergency planning
- Footpaths and bridleways
- Highways, pavements, potholes, street lighting and traffic management
- Waste management
- Libraries, museums and the arts
- Public transport
- Social Services
- Trading standard
other Useful information
When Do we meet?
Thames Valley Police: visit website or call the non-emergency contact line 0845 8 505 505
The current parish councillors are:
- Michael May (Chair)
- Vicki Roe (Vice Chair)
- David Wilkins
- Tara Glen
- James Knight
The chair and vice chair are elected each May at the Annual Meeting. Sydenham Fayre and the Neighbourhood Plan Group are sub-committees.
We are always happy to discuss any areas, so feel free to get in contact with the Parish Council through the Parish Clerk:
Heather Mullins
parishcouncil@sydenhamvillage.co.uk
01844 873690
The responsibilities of the council are varied and include (but are not limited to):
- Being consulted on all planning applications within the parish
- Liaising with the County Council on highways and public transport matters affecting the parish
- Reviewing the challenges of speeding through the village (here is a summary of the history and a summary of the data collected in Nov 2016)
- Liaising with the police on matters of concern within the parish
- Liaising with the County Council regarding footpaths and other rights of way
- Looking after the parish e.g. grass cutting on the areas of village greens and maintaining the playing field
- Monitoring and actioning drainage, ditches and verges throughout the parish as necessary
- Provision and maintenance of dog hygiene bins
- Organising litter blitzes and arranging for road cleaning
- Keeping the village notice boards up to date
- Financially supporting the village newsletter
What's happening?
Precept: The council income comes mainly from the District Council, with the current precept being £20,000 pa as of 2024/2025.
Privacy Policy: This policy describes how personal data must be collected, handled and stored to meet the council's data protection standards and ensure it is GDPR compliant. The Privacy Policy was revised in April 2024.
Planning applications: These can be viewed via the South Oxfordshire District Council website, either via the interactive map or by the planning application register.
Declaration of interests: In accordance with the Parish Council's code of conduct, effective from 1 July 2012, all councillors are required to register their interests.
Freedom of information: information available from Sydenham Parish Council under the model publication scheme can be seen in the Publication Scheme.
Safeguarding and Child Protection: Everyone has a duty to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults. The Parish Council has a Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
Standing Orders: These are the written rules of a local Council and used to confirm a Council’s internal organisational, administrative and procurement procedures and procedural matters for meetings. They are not the same as the policies of a Council but they may refer to them. Sydenham Parish Council's Standing Orders are reviewed annually.
Code of Conduct: This is adopted pursuant to the council’s duty to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members and co-opted members. Code of Conduct.
Financial Regulations: These regulations govern the conduct of financial management by the council and are one of the council’s three governing policy documents providing procedural guidance for members and officers. The Parish Council's Financial Regulations are reviewed annually.
Biodiversity: Under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, the Parish Council has a duty to conserve biodiversity, and this document sets out our objectives.
Insurance: Public and Products Liability and Employers' Liability certificates
Our accounts
Sydenham Parish Council usually meets on the first Thursday of each month (except August) in the Old School Room, Brookstones at 7.30pm (7pm in the winter).
These meetings are open to the public and everyone is very welcome.
We operate an open policy regarding the finances of the Parish Council, so here are our latest accounts.